Luggage carrier



Jun 22 ,1926. 1,589,893

L. W. MOWRY LUGGAGE CARRIER Filed Feb. 15, 1922 2: ,WWVM

A TTORNEYS.

lfatented June 22, 1926.

UITE STATES LOUIS W. MOWRY, OF RACINE, WISCONSIN.

LUGGAGE CARRIER.

Application filed February This invention relates to luggage carriers, and is particularly directed to luggage carriers for automobiles.

Objects of this invention are to provide a luggage carrier which may be attached to the running board of an automobile; to provide a luggage carrier which may be folded and moved out of the way to allow the free use of the running board; to provide a luggage carrier which will not rattle either when it is folded or in its extended position; and to provide a luggage carrier which may .be readily adjusted to either position.

Further objects are to provide a luggage J-arrier which may be readily attached beneath the running board of an automobile; which equipped with a housing for the luggage carrier proper to prevent accumulation of mud and dirt upon the luggage carrier; which may be readily operated; and which may be cheaply manufactured and readily attached.

An embodiment of the invention is shown m the accompanying drawings, in which 1 is a side elevation of the luggage carrier in its extended position.

Figure 2, is a section taken on line 2 of Figure 1.

Figure is an enlarged end elevation of the apparatus with the carrier folded, the end wall of the carrying case being broken away to expose the interior arrangement of the parts.

In the drawings, 1 indicates the running board of an automobile. To this is secured a box-like member consisting of a wooden top 2 to which is attached the end portions 3 and rear portion 4 of a sheet metal, channel shaped member or housing. In the preierred manner of making this housing the bottom 5, ends and rear portions 3 and 4:, respectively, are all formed integrally from sheet metal, and if desired, a beaded edge 6 may extend around the forward margins of themetal portion. This meta-l member may conveniently be secured to the wooden top 2 by means of a series of screws 7 as indicated in the drawings. It is spaced from the running board and attached thereto by means of members fiformed ofstrap iron, and provided with parallelupper and lower portions .9. and 10. --The lower portions 10 of themembersS may conveniently be held to the top 2 by means of rivets 11 passing through 'such members and through the wooden t p, and also passing at the lower Serial No. 536,835.

ends through reenforcing metal straps 12 secured to the underside of the top 2. The strap members 12 may conveniently be provided with angularly positioned terminals 13 as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3.

The upper portions 9 of the members 8 are secured to the running board in any convenient manner, preferably as shown, that is to say the front pair are secured by means of bolts 14 of any usual construction, and the rear pair by means of bolts 15, provided with hook shaped upper ends 16, for a purpose hereinafter described.

The luggage carrier proper consists of an open framework of strap metal having an upper and lower section hingedly joined at 17. The upper and lower sections consist, respectively, of the members 18 and 19 arranged in pairs and hingedly joined at 17, as previously described. The members 18 are joined by transverse metal strap members 20, and the members 19 are similarly joined by one or more of such members 21. The members 21 are provided with handles rigidly secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom in a plane closely adjacent the plane of the luggage carrier proper, as indicated in Fig. 1. The lower ends of the members 19 are provided with right angle extensions These extensions are provided with openings through which pass rods 24, as will be seen from Figs. and 3. These rods 24 are secured to the reenforcing strap members 12 previously described, and are spaced therefrom. A convenient way of providing this construction is to set the rear end of the rods 2e within an opening in the angular extension 13 of the reenforcing members 12, and lift such end in place. The forward end of the rod is provided with an angularly, upwardly, extending portion which is socketed within an opening adjacent the for-- ward end of the member 12, and is riveted in place.

When the luggage carrier is in extended or operative position, a pair of straps 26, secured at their ends to the upper edge of the luggage carrier, are stretched taut and fastened over the hooks 16. These straps are preferably provided withreenforcing eyelets 27 to receive the wear from the hooks. It is to be noted from reference to Fig. 2 that the hinged joints, shown between the upper and lower portions of the luggage carrier proper, are so made they will lock against further motion after the upper portion has been brought upwardly into highest position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. This locking is secured iy the curved formation of the lower ends 28 of the members 1S, and the upper ends 2) of the lower meml'iers if). it will be noted from a refer ence to Fig. 2 that the pivot point 17 is ottset from the cen er, and is nearest to the deflected portions 28 and 529. It will be noted. therefore. that when it is attempted to bend or fold the upper portion of the luggage carrier inwardly beyond the position shown in Fig. 2, the upper end of the portion 529 will e slan engage. ting curved portion of the part 28 and will ill the upper and lower aee carrier against furparts of the inn, 7 her relative motion.

It. is intended it at t such ength as to sliel he strap 26 all. he of itly spring the framw work of the luggage carrier, and cause it to bend against the outer edge 30 of the run nine; board 1. However. in case the framewort should bow or bend. or the strap elongate, plungg'ers 31 are provided and are secured hy means of guides to the upper portion of the top 12. These planners are pressed outwardly by means of the springs 33. It will be noted that when the luggage carrier is in the position, shown in Fig. :2, t will Contact with the outer ends of these aprine's pressed iilunrgrers and will he there-by held in binding; relation against such plungrer. This constructnm, as well as the locking feature previously described and the taut straps Q6, materially lessen rattling. or substantially prevent it.

When it is desired to house the luggage carrier, it is folded ahout its pivot points 17. and is slid inwardly within the h iusing,--tho annular portions sliding freely upon the rods 2%. Yt hen in the housed position, it will be noted. that the rivets 34- and S5 of the framework contact and tend to u'iaintain the outer ones of the framew ili in a spaced relation. it will thus be seen that the outer ends of this framework are forced againstv the rods El and the limtton'i 5, respectively, of the housing, and that rattling, when in stored position, is substantially eliminated.

The strau. 526 are folded hacltwardlv, a

l in .Licated in Fin. 3, so to lie beneath end rivets of the framework, and form a cushion hetfveen rivets and the tom portion of the housing, thereby i rattling: while in stored position.

in order to securely retain the folded h s carrier in stored position, a pair of n)" n 1 print; hooks or clips or and 08 are hlngedly .ccurcd. indicated at 39 and 40, to the out r edge of the top 2, and are provided with angular portions 4-1, These angular portions are snapped beneath the transverse stored, it is completely out of sight and out of the way, and is protected om any mud that may be thrown by the wheels of the automobile. These desirable results. it will l. have been secured. by providiinr lonely simple and cheaply made con- .ction. and one which may be readily and i attached to the automobile running I claim:

1. A lug-gage carrier comprising the combination with a running board support, of a frame hingedly connected with said support adjacent a margin thereof and at apted for hinged movement to and from a position in which said frame extents vertically above said margin, a second frame hingedly connected with the first frame a point remote from the hinged connection of the first fame with said support and adapted for hinged movement about said point to and from a position in which said second frame is substantially aligned with said first frame vertically above said point, means for preventing said second frame from pivoting in one direction when aligned with the first frame, and tension means adapted for en e ap'einent with a relatively fixed object and connected to said second frame, said tension means alone being adapted when engaged with such an object to maintain both of said frames in their said positions of vertical alignment.

:2. A lujeage carrier including a frame having hts respectively pivotally jointed on a. couunon horizontal axis and connected by transversely extenving members, said uprights prm idingstops limiting the pivotal movement in one direction beyond a common plane inch'iding; all portions of said uprights, a fixed. support, means providing; hinged and sliding connection for the lower ends of said uprights, and tension means ext mrling between said suppo t and a portion of said frame above the pivotal joints of the uprights, said tension means having; a r el ,sable connection with, said support.

. carrierincluding frame ,ransverse members, upper and lower tscomprising fiat strips having their res aec'ive abutting ends twisted to planes normal to said frame, pivot pins each pa. ing through the twisted end of an upper and a lower upright adjacent the margins of such ends, v iereby the opposite margin of one of said ends will contact when Said up- Lil rights are mutually aligned with the twisted portion of the other upright, and a stop limiting the relative oscillation of the uprights so connected is provided.

4-. A luggage carrier comprising in combination, a support, a pair of frames pivotally joined together on a horizontal axis, means for preventing their relative pivotal movement in one direction when the two frames are arranged vertically in substantially the same plane, means for releasably retaining the lower frame in engagement with the support and the two frames erectin substantially the same plane, and means providing a hinged and sliding connection between said lower frame and said support to permit the frames to be arranged erect above the support or collapsed beneath the same.

5. The combination with a receptacle open at the side and adapted for attachment beneath a vehicle running board, of a pair of frames hingedly related upon a horizontal axis and adjustable upon said axis into a common plane, said frames being formed to provide a stop adapted to limit relative pivotal movement in one direction beyond said plane, a slidable connection between the lower of said frames and said receptacle, said connection being adapted to permit said frame to slide therein and to rotate hingedly above the opening thereof, and a flexible tension device secured to the upper of said frames, beyond the hinged connection and detachably engageable with a running board at a point remote from the outer edge thereof to rclcasably retain the frames in erect position.

6. The combination with a receptacle open at its side and adapted to be secured to the under side of a vehicle running board, of a pair of =frames hingedly jointed upon a horizontal axis and relatively adjustable upon said axis to a common plane, said frames being formed to provide a stop for limiting their pivotal movement in one direction beyond said plane, guide rods spaced downwardly within said receptacle, eyes as sociated with one of said fran'ies and slidablc upon said rods, and tension braces connected with the other of said frames and adapted to be detachably secured to a point fixed with reference to a vehicle running board,

7, The combination of an automobile runa board, a housing beneath said running board, rods mounted within said housing and extending transversely thereof, a framework slidably carried by said rods and having pivotally joined sections, said frameworhadapted to be folded and positioned within said housing, and tending normally to separate, thereby yieldingly engaging said housing, means for locking the jointed sections of said framework against further motion when in the extended )osition, and straps carried by said fran'iework and adapted for attachment to said running board to hold said framework in a tcnsioned conditimi, adjacent the outer side of said rimning board.

8. The combination with a vehicle running board of a receptacle secured beneath. said running board. and provided with an open side substantially in vertical alignment therewith, a frame slidable within said receptacle and connected therewith for pi'mtal movement upwardly into contact with the margin of said running board, a second frame pivotally connected upon a longitudinal axis with said first n'ientioned frame and adapted to be folded back against said first mentioned frame to slide therewith into said receptacle, a stop upon one of said frames for limiting the pivotal movement of the second frame beyond a plane common to both of said frames, and tension means secured to said second frame and detachably engageable with said running board, whereby said second frame and first mentioned frame are maintained in a common plane, and said first mentioned frame is maintained in contact with the margin of the running board.

A luggage carrier comprising in combination, a support, a lower frame pivotally connected thereto for limited swinging move ment, an upper frame, a joint pivota lly connecting the two frames and including means for limiting movementof the upper frame in one direction when the two frames are substantially in alignment, and means for releasably retaining the lower frame in engagement with the support and for preventing pivotal movement of the upper frame in the other direction.

10. A lugg e carrier comprising in com bination, a support, a lower frame pivotally mounted below the support and adapted for abutment therewith to limit its swinging movement in one direction, an upper frame, a pivotal connection between the two frames and inclu-din means for limiting movement of the upper fauna in one direction when the two frames are arranged in substantially the same plane and erect, and means for releasably retaining the lower frame in sin gagernent with the support to prevent its pivotal movement in one direction and for preventing pivotal movement of the upper frame in the direction in which said pivotal connection permits the upper frame to swing,

11. A luggage carrier including the com-- bination of a suit-port, a pair of frames hingedly connected on a horizontal. axis whereby they can be disposed one above the other in substantially the same plane, and means adapted to connect the frames to said support, said means permitting the frames when. folded be disposed beneath.

the supportand when unfolded to be disposed one above the other 111 substantmlly the same "olane.

i2. 41 luggage earner mehnhng tne c0111- nnnwon ot' a sumoi' :1 )an' 0; names 1 L t 11 t, 1 f i hlngedly connected on a hormontal axls, means adapted to prevent relatlve movement of the frames 1n one dn'ectlon beyond a plane substantially common to both 01 said i zones, and means adapted, to connect the {runes to said sup wit, said last means pern'liti'ing said frames when "folded to be disposed neneath the support and when unfolded to be disposed one above the other in substnlniiafy the same plan LOUIS W. MUWRY. 

